Seven Stars of the Air|Water Porsche Auction

Taking place on April 26, the second annual Air|Water Porsche auction, put on by Broad Arrow, will see over 50 Porsches go under the hammer, as thousands of Porsche fans gather at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, California for Air|Water. “It’s a captivating fusion of race and street, vintage and cutting-edge modernity, two-door and four-door elegance, and an electrifying mix of combustion and electric power,” say the event’s organizers. “We’re taking you on a journey through time—from the rugged diesel tractors of the ’50s to today’s sleek hybrid and electrified supercars—delivering a full-throttle exploration of everything Porsche.”

Cars up for sale include some of the earliest examples of the marque, through rare racers and priceless collector cars. There’s also a good number of more affordable classics in the mix, with the auctioneers adding, “Broad Arrow looks forward to once again celebrating all things Porsche with one of the most loyal and engaged enthusiast bases in the collector car industry.”

Here’s just a taste of what’s on offer.

1989 RUF CTR Yellowbird

One of the highlights of the sale is this rare RUF CTR “Yellowbird.” It’s one of only 29 W09 Group C cars built by the German Porsche legends and has an estimate of $4.5-$5.5 million. This example has thankfully been enjoyed and not hidden away—it proudly wears 37,174 km on its odometer. Even so, it’s in pristine shape. For more details, check out our standalone story on this remarkable RUF.

1966 Porsche 906

The follow-up to Porsche’s successful 904 Carrera GTS was the lesser-known 906 or Carrera 6. Sharing its silhouette with the earlier car—and penned by Ferdinand Porsche—the 906 was powered by a two-liter flat-six that made 210 horsepower at a heady 8000 rpm and was positioned behind the occupants in a steel tube frame chassis. The 906 quickly made a name for itself on track, winning its class at the Daytona 24 Hours, the Sebring 12 Hours, and Monza 1000 kms, and taking overall glory at the 1966 Targa Florio. The 906 for sale was originally bought by Earle M. Chiles, part of the Fred Meyer supermarket dynasty, and it was raced throughout 1966 and 1967. The car spent a spell in Europe before returning to the U.S. in 2022. The auction house estimates it will sell for $1.6-$1.9 M.

2023 Porsche 911 Coupe Reimagined by Singer

Singers don’t change hands very often, and that’s no surprise given that each one is a time-intensive and intensely personal collaboration between customer and builder. This commission features carbon bodywork in Singer Racing White, multi-piece 17-inch alloy wheels, and an interior trimmed in black woven leather with yellow contrasting. The four-liter flat-six built by Ed Pink produces 390 hp, aided by revised cams, a CARB-compliant ECT, ceramic plenum inlet, and a ceramic-coated exhaust. A five-speed manual sends drive to the rear wheels, and there are Brembo brakes and two-way adjustable suspension by Öhlins. Bidding is estimated to reach between $1,050,000 and $1,250,000.

1960 Porsche 356 B Super 90 Zagato Coupe “Sanction Lost”

In 1957 French racer Claude Storez had an idea: By rebodying his Porsche 356 Speedster, he could make it speedier. Storez turned to Carozzeria Zagato, who crafted an aluminum body that was lighter and more streamlined than the standard car. At the Reims leg of the 1958 Tour de France, Storez came in second behind a Ferrari 250 GT TdF, proving the car’s potential. Tragically, a year later, Storez was killed on the final stage of the Rallye des Routes du Nord, and the car was never seen again. Yet neither were forgotten, and thanks to an American Porsche collector, Zagato recreated nine examples from original photos. “We can’t afford not to make a car that’s this important and this amazing because it marked the first collaboration between Zagato and Porsche,” said Andrea Zagato. This example started out as a 1960 356 B Super 90 Coupe and was rebuilt for a buyer in the Netherlands, later finding a home in California. Broad Arrow estimates its sale at $325,000-$375,000.

1989 Porsche 911 Speedster

Adding some sunshine to the sale is a 1989 911 Speedster, finished in a rather special Paint-to-Sample non-metallic Light Yellow. The color, which is a throwback to 1970, cost the original owner an extra $2,134 (about $5500 today). Throw in the matching 16-inch Fuchs alloys, Mahogany partial leather trim, air conditioning, power seats, and Blaupunkt Reno audio system and the total price when new was $73,822 (about $190,400). One of 823 Speedsters built for the U.S. market, it has been maintained in “exceptional” condition by owners in Washington, California, Florida, and Montana, yet has only covered 13,017 miles. Broad Arrow estimates it at $275,000-$325,000.

1996 Porsche 911 Carrera Cup 3.8

Among the handful of race cars up for grabs at Air|Water, this striking tricolor Carrera Cup contender from 1996 really stands out from the crowd. One of 57 cars built to compete that year, it boasts a 3.8-liter engine delivering 315 hp and all the racing accoutrements you’d expect. There’s a Matter roll cage, stripped-out interior, and a pair of Recaro bucket seats, while the exterior gets a big wing, front splitter, plus three-piece Speedline magnesium alloy wheels. An adjustable coilover suspension is also fitted. The Carrera competed in the 1998 French FFSA GT Championship and later in a series of GTP Weekend races across Europe. It was imported to the U.S. in 2006 and has been kept in pristine condition, as exemplified by its class win at the 2023 Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance. Whether you get your kicks on the track or on the lawn, this Carrera is likely to set you back $200,000-$250,000.

1994 Porsche 968 Coupe

For fans of the Stuttgart brand looking for something more affordable, there’s also a selection of cars that are likely to sell for $50,000 or less. This 1994 968 Coupe is a prime example of a car that’s been well-driven and maintained and could continue to be a daily driver. It comes in Aventurine Green Metallic paint with a Classic Gray leather cabin and the GT package, which added a limited slip differential, powered driver’s seat, and a painted rear spoiler and side trim. As new, it rode on 17-inch Cup Design alloy wheels but now comes with Mille Miglia Cup II wheels, along with a Billy Boat exhaust, the center console from a 968 Clubsport, and a Porsche Classic audio system. Broad Arrow anticipates that the hammer will fall on this 968 between $35,000-$45,000.